As a global leader in the modern psychedelic movement, the Synthesis Institute, under Synthesis Digital LLC, is dedicated to advancing psychedelic research and delivering high-quality professional education and training for aspiring psychedelic practitioners. With a pioneering history of offering legal psychedelic experiences to over 1,000 individuals, the Synthesis Institute has established itself as a trusted educational provider for a growing community of more than 300 students and graduates. Today, under new leadership, the Synthesis Institute (Synthesis Digital LLC) continues to fulfill its mission through the Psychedelic Practitioner Training program.
May 25, 2023
We are excited to announce that the next cohort of thePsychedelic Practitioner Core Trainingprogram is scheduled to begin in August 2023. Enrollment will open in June.
This announcement offers an overview of recent organizational changes that have occurred in the first quarter of 2023, resulting in new developments within our training program. For detailed information, please continue reading.
In early March 2022, the Dutch sister company of Synthesis Digital LLC, which was dedicated to offering legal psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands, filed for bankruptcy and has been under the control of an appointed curator overseeing the bankruptcy proceedings since then.
On March 10th, Synthesis Digital LLC, which also faced financial challenges at the time, transferred the operations of its Psychedelic Practitioner Training program to Retreat Guru, the leading online platform for booking wellness and psychedelic retreats. A dedicated team from the Synthesis staff returned to ensure the program's continuity for the 200+ enrolled students. While the majority of students chose to continue and complete their training program, some opted to withdraw. To support those who have chosen to exit, we have implemented refund processes and payment plans.
This transition has been a period of deep grieving, painful learning, collective re-grounding, and extraordinary regeneration. For the program team that continues to hold the training program today, it has been an opportunity to acknowledge limitations, embrace not-knowing, cultivate regenerative energy, and lean into new possibilities.
As we emerge from this transitional period and experience increased stability each passing week, we are pleased to announce that the Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training program will continue under new leadership, accepting new students in the future. Applications for the next cohort, which is scheduled to start in August 2023, will open in June. We are currently reviewing the application process and admission criteria to ensure they align with the program's objectives and maintain its legacy of welcoming professionals with experience from a diverse range of industries, such as mental health, healthcare, medicine, personal development, and the healing arts.
In this new chapter of the Psychedelic Practitioner Training, the program's faculty and Learning Facilitators, under new leadership, remain largely unchanged, ensuring a continuous educational journey for past, current and future participants. The experiential components of the training program include the Synthesis Immersion Experience, a nine-day retreat designed to integrate the knowledge and skills acquired during the foundational digital training, and the Practicum program, an opportunity for students to further their preparation for future work in the field. These are designed to complement the foundational education provided in the Psychedelic Practitioner Core Training andcontinue to be integral components of the training journey.
Furthermore, the program is in the process of renewing its advisory board and is pleased to announce the addition of Rev. Konrad Ryushin Marchaj as its first new member. Rev. Konrad Ryushin Marchaj is a Zen priest with over three decades of experience practicing Buddhism, Dharma teaching, and Ayahuasca ceremony work. With his extensive background as a physician and psychiatrist, Rev. Ryushin brings a profound understanding of the mind and expresses unconditional love through compassionate means. Under Rev. Konrad Ryushin Marchaj's guidance, the program aims to deepen the integration of mindfulness and compassion practices, further enhancing students' readiness for their work in the field.
The program’s growth is shaped more than ever by the continuous input from our students, leading to the development of a shared vision that responds to their desire for more opportunities to network and connect with faculty members. Furthermore, our partnership with Retreat Guru allows us to tap into its vast global network of plant medicine centers and millions of annual website visitors seeking psychedelic services, enabling us to provide access to professional development opportunities that align with our program’s objectives.
In closing, we want to reaffirm our commitment to the core values that define our work:
1. Consistently operating at the highest ethical level 2. Maintaining the highest level of integrity and professionalism 3. Practicing intentionality, authenticity, fairness, kindness, and caring 4. Aspiring to embody an integrated presence 5. Diligently amassing knowledge and creating understanding in the psychedelic field
Guided by our values and supported by the mindful presence of our community, we persist in navigating this journey and its myriad experiences—the discomfort, challenges, grief, beauty, relief, and joy. Our aspiration is for our paths to converge as we come together in community, united by our shared commitment to this work.
To those who feel intrigued to join us in our new chapter, we welcome you.
About Retreat Guru: Founded in 2014 and based in Nelson, British Columbia, Retreat Guru is the largest platform for booking wellness and psychedelic retreats online, trusted by over 2,000 retreat centers and facilitators for booking and payment processing services.
Our world-class training prepares psychotherapists, members of the medical field, practitioners, and coaches to facilitate psychedelic experiences inside a therapeutic model or support the preparation and integration of psychedelic experiences for patients.
If you’re interested in discovering more about the enormous power and potential for psychedelic-assisted treatments to advance well-being and revolutionize the treatment of behavioral, mental health, and substance use disorders, get access to Guiding The UnboundMind and discover what every practitioner must know about working with psychedelics:
“Scientific investigation into the therapeutic potential of psychedelics and training for practitioners is vital for combating the mental health crisis. I'm excited to continue working alongside Synthesis to provide high-quality services and meaningful scientific research for the psychedelic community.”
DR. ROBIN CARHART-HARRISHead of the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London
“Although many people think of psychedelics as dangerous drugs, it’s time for a rethink. When used carefully in clinical research settings, psychedelics have been reported to have a profoundly beneficial effect on many people’s lives. They are non-toxic, non-addictive, have very few side effects, and could potentially offer relief for people suffering from a range of psychological difficulties. As a scientific researcher working on the therapeutic benefits of psilocybin, I stand by Synthesis’ ethos to make psychedelics accessible to more people, implementing best practices for the community.”
DR. ROSALIND WATTSFaculty at Synthesis, and Former Lead Clinical Psychologist at Imperial College London’s Centre for Psychedelic Research
